About BC AHSN

The purpose of the BC Academic Health Science Network (BC AHSN) is to accelerate the translation of research insights into innovations that address patient needs and health system priorities to improve population health outcomes.

As an independent provincial organization, BC AHSN’s role is to foster collaboration and the diffusion of excellence in care, research and education among health system partners.

BC AHSN will act as a key enabler of a scientific and learning approach to implementing continuous improvement and strategic transformation of BC’s health system. By creating collaborative partnerships and aligning priorities and resources, BC AHSN will create an environment where research and innovations can be translated, applied and evaluated for patient benefit, and where competent health professionals can be educated, recruited, and retained.

A number of key provincial resources are integrated within the BC AHSN organization, strengthening the network’s overall reach and impact:

The BC SUPPORT Unit (Support for People and Patient-Oriented Trials), which focuses on supporting, streamlining and increasing patient-oriented research throughout BC. Part of CIHR’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR);

Clinical Trials BC (formerly the BC Clinical Research Infrastructure Network), which strengthens British Columbia’s capacity and competitiveness for attracting world class clinical trials to our hospitals, research institutions and communities; and

A priority initiative unit (currently in development) that will provide support, structures and processes for multi-partner, province-wide implementation projects in priority health areas.